Please note: all materials that your student may need can be found on their Canvas course. Each unit follows a similar routine. See the Canvas course for specifics about each day.
Here are a few general information facts about the Math 6+/7+ class. If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please don't hesitate to contact me.
1: Process for Independent vs Class work completion- Each time I start a new unit in my Math 6+ class, I will give your student a pretest to see if they can "test out" of that unit with me:
If they successfully "test out", they will work independently on their 6+/7+ Canvas course during class time. While they may have enough time to finish their work in class, it is equally likely that they will still need to complete some activities at home.
If they do not successfully "test out" of the Math 6+ unit, they will join in with the rest of the class for the duration of that unit. This means they will not have class time to work on their 6+/7+Canvas course, so they will need to be sure they are doing extra at home to stay up to date with the Math 6+/7+ pacing.
Math 6+ Units 1, 4, 8 and 9 do not have the opportunity to test out- your student.will automatically be with me and the rest of the class for these units.
While I always say I do what is best for my students in my Math 6 and Math 6+ classes (even if it means slightly straying from the pacing guide set forth in the scope and sequence chart), the sheer volume of work that your child will need to do to successfully complete this class makes it VERY important that they stick as close to the given pacing as possible. If they fall behind, it will only become more and more difficult to get caught up as the year goes on.
2: I get asked a lot, "Does my student do the regular Math 6+ homework, quizzes and tests for you in addition to the Math 6+/7+ work?" The simple answer is... maybe. :)
Homework, quizzes and tests are embedded in the Canvas course, so your student will use those when they are "tested out" of a unit and will not have to deal with my Math 6+ homework, quizzes and tests for that unit.
However, if they did not "test out" and are are working on a unit with me, they will be expected to pull "double duty" and complete all my homework, quizzes and tests as well as those on their Canvas course.
While there may be some overlap in the assignments (and obviously they won't have to do things twice if they appear in both classes), there will still be plenty of work that is only part of the 6+/7+ curriculum that will need to be completed. Again, it is VERY important that they continue to do whatever work is necessary at home to keep up to date with the pacing.
3: The Overall Workload-
As your student works their way through the Math 6+/7+ Canvas course, they will be completing ALL THREE middle school Math courses (Math 6, Math 7 and Math 8) in a single year, so expect their stress level to be high. Time management skills and self-discipline are extremely important for success in the Math 6+/7+ course!!! I will do everything I can to support your student as they take on this challenge.
We all (students, parents and myself) have to make sure to be open and honest in our communication with how things are progressing in the 6+/7+ class. Unfortunately, it will be almost impossible for me to address Math 6+/7+ questions in the middle of teaching a full classroom of Math 6+ during same class period. I will check in with them as often as I can while the Math 6+ class is completing their work, but my availability to answer 6+/7+ questions will be quite limited. Your student will always be welcome to come see me during homeroom, Ramp Up, working lunch and/or dismissal as time permits if I am not able to get to their questions during class time.
If at any time your child is struggling with the workload, the content, or just feeling discouraged about Math, please contact me as soon as possible. We need to create a plan of success for your child before they become completely overwhelmed.
If all else fails and things are getting to that point of "it's just too much", we can always move your student to the Math 6+ curriculum at any time without having to change the schedule of any of their other classes at all since they are already listed as being in Period 5 (which is a Math 6+ class).
Please understand that if it were to become necessary to make the change to Math 6+, your student DID NOT fail in any way! They would still be in an accelerated Math class... it would just be that they complete all of Math 6 and about one-half to two-thirds of Math 7 this year rather than all three grades. They would then complete the rest of Math 7 as well as Math 8 in Math 7+ next year. As a result, they would still take Math I in middle school (just in 8th Grade rather than 7th Grade) and would still be on pace to take college level math in high school (just as a senior rather than as a junior). Since most high schools use block scheduling, they could even take two math classes in a single year in high school and be right back on the pace that the 6+/7+ curriculum sets up! The only difference is that they would be better prepared for workload and stress level when the time came and both would be drastically reduced for this year. :)
***** Please DO NOT print this calendar. See the Canvas course for specifics about each day. I have included these lessons based on the suggested/anticipated time frame but, while it doesn't happen often, adjustments may happen here and there. I will communicate any adjustments if/when they come up to your student and they will be reflected on both this calendar and the online materials provided to your student.